Device for packaging and dispensing

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device ( 1 ) for packaging and dispensing a composition sensitive to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen, comprising a body ( 2 ) formed at least partially from a sheet of a multilayer complex, comprising within one layer at least one pulverulent filler in a mass proportion, within the layer, of preferably greater than or equal to 5%.

This is a national stage application of PCT/IB2012/057354, filedinternationally on Dec. 14, 2012, which claims priority to FrenchApplication No. FR 1161849, filed Dec. 16, 2011, and to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/640,081, filed Apr. 30, 2012, the entire disclosuresof each of which are incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and dispensing acomposition sensitive to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen, in particulara hair dyeing composition.

Materials have been developed for a long time with the aim of providingpackaging that is impermeable to atmospheric oxygen in order to preservethe contents under better conditions.

Application EP 1 669 305 A1 by the applicant thus discloses a sheetmaterial that can be used to produce such packaging.

Numerous products are offered in tubes, which comprise a tubular bodygenerally formed by rolling a sheet of a multilayer complex over itselfand joining its longitudinal edges together by welding. The tubular bodyis also closed at its lower end by welding and joined at its upper endto a head comprising a neck on which a cap is fixed.

A tube formed with the multilayer complex material as disclosed in EP 1669 305 A1 has the drawback of having a certain elasticity, whichresults in the tube resuming its initial shape after it has beencompressed in order to expel the contents therefrom, and this isaccompanied by an intake of air which is detrimental to the preservationof the product.

Metal tubes are known not to maintain their initial shape duringemptying, when they are progressively deformed in order to expel theircontents. However, these tubes are particularly costly and are used lessand less in favour of tubes made of polymer materials which may bemetallized.

There is a need to further improve devices for packaging and dispensinga composition that has to be kept away from air, while maintaining amethod for manufacturing these devices that is compatible withlarge-scale production.

The invention meets this need by virtue of a device for packaging anddispensing a composition sensitive to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen,comprising a body formed at least partially from a sheet of a multilayercomplex, comprising within one layer at least one pulverulent filler ina mass proportion, within the layer, of preferably greater than or equalto 5%.

The presence of this filler, in the invention, gives the sheet lesselasticity or shape memory, and said sheet thus tends to keep the shapeinto which it has been deformed by the user when the latter presses onthe wall of the device in order to expel the contents therefrom.

This filler is preferably a mineral filler and may comprise, or betterconsist of, calcium carbonate, dolomite, kaolin, calcined kaolin,titanium oxide, silicate, silica, glass fibres, talc, mica, feldspar,nepheline, syenite, wollastonite, barium sulphate, and mixtures thereof.The granulometry D₅₀ is preferably between 2 and 100 μm.

The mass proportion of the pulverulent filler, within the layercontaining it, is preferably between 15 and 50%, better still between 20and 40%, even better between 25 and 35%. This pulverulent filler ispreferably in a mass proportion of less than or equal to 70%. The layerwhich contains the filler is preferably extruded with this filler, suchthat the latter is distributed substantially homogeneously within thethickness of the layer. The thickness of the filled layer may be between25 and 150 μm, better between 50 and 100 μm.

Preferably, the pulverulent filler is located in a layer of themultilayer complex that is not exposed to the composition containedinside the device, preferably the external layer of the multilayercomplex. Only this layer may comprise a pulverulent filler.

The multilayer complex advantageously comprises at least one supportlayer and at least one barrier layer, and preferably at least twosupport layers and at least one barrier layer between said supportlayers.

The layer containing the pulverulent filler is preferably a supportlayer and, more preferably, a support layer located on the external sideof the barrier layer or layers.

The support layer or layers may comprise a polyolefin, preferablypolyethylene.

The barrier layer or layers may be formed from metal, in particularaluminum, or from non-polyolefinic polymers, in particular EVOH(ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer), PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride) or PA(polyamide).

The multilayer complex may comprise a barrier layer formed from metal,in particular aluminum, having a thickness of for example between 7 and40 μm, and also optionally one or more adjacent layers formed from anadhesive polymer material, chosen for example from materials that ensurethe cohesion of the complex in the presence of the chemical compoundscontained in the device.

Preferably, these materials contain a copolymer having carboxylic and/orcarboxylate units, preferably in a content of at least 7% by weightwithin the copolymer.

A copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid (EAA) is most particularlysuitable, with a mass content of preferably greater than or equal to 7%of acrylic acid (AA).

In one implementation example of the invention, the multilayer complexcomprises the succession of the following layers, from the inside to theoutside: support material/barrier material/support material/adhesivematerial/barrier material/adhesive material/support material containingpulverulent filler, or: support material/adhesive material/barriermaterial/adhesive material/support material containing pulverulentfiller.

Preferably, the following structure is provided:

-   -   support material/barrier material (preferably        non-metallic)/support material/adhesive material (preferably        non-polyolefinic)/barrier material (preferably        metallic)/adhesive material (preferably        non-polyolefinic)/unfilled support material/support material        containing pulverulent filler according to the invention,

or

-   -   support material/adhesive material (preferably        non-polyolefinic)/barrier material (preferably        metallic)/adhesive material (preferably        non-polyolefinic)/unfilled support material/support material        containing pulverulent filler.

The sheet used to produce the body of the tube has for example thefollowing structure:

-   -   polyolefin, preferably LDPE/acrylic acid copolymer, preferably        EAA, with 7% by weight or more of AA/aluminum/acrylic acid        copolymer, preferably EAA, with 7% by weight or more of        AA/polyolefin, preferably LDPE/polyolefin, preferably a mixture        of LDPE and HDPE, with a filler of CaCO₃

or

-   -   polyolefin, preferably PE/EVOH, PA or PVDC/polyolefin,        preferably

PE/acrylic acid copolymer, preferably EAA, with 7% by weight or more ofAA/polyolefin, preferably LDPE/polyolefin, preferably a mixture of LDPEand HDPE, with a filler of CaCO₃.

The packaging and dispensing device is advantageously equipped with acap which is fitted on a neck secured to the body of the device, thiscap preferably comprising a central protrusion which is inserted intothe neck in order to reduce the dead volume therein when the device isclosed.

The protrusion can be designed to fit in a sealed manner over theinternal surface of the neck, preferably at the base thereof, and betterproviding double sealing both at the base of the neck and at the upperpart thereof.

The cap may comprise, and in particular consist of, a mixture of aplurality of components, in particular two different components.

One of these components may be a polymer selected from COC (cycloolefincopolymer), EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer), PA (polyamide), inparticular PAG, PAN (polyacrylonitrile), PBT (polybutyleneterephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PET(thermoplastic polyester), in particular PETP (polyethyleneterephthalate) or copolyesters, PMP (poly(4-methyl-1-pentene)), POM(polyoxymethylene), PP (polypropylene) or PVAL (polyvinyl alcohol).

The second component of the mixture may be selected from the barriermaterials, in particular EVOH.

In one alternative, the cap comprises, and in particular consists of, amultilayer complex comprising two support layers consisting of the samematerial selected from the above list and at least one barrier layer, inparticular EVOH, between said support layers.

The use of such components for the cap ensures airtightness.

The neck is preferably produced with a multilayer complex comprising atleast one support material and a material that forms a barrier, betterwith the same multilayer complex as above.

The neck may in particular be produced by a compression mouldingtechnique as disclosed in International Application WO 2008/096290.

According to this technique, a metered quantity of the multilayercomplex is deposited in a mould in the molten state following extrusionand is compressed along a compression axis which intersects theextrusion axis so as to cause in the flow of the layers an asymmetry inthe extrusion axis.

This can result in some layers being folded over themselves, inparticular the barrier layer or layers, such that the final product has,at least in some regions, a number of layers greater than the numberinitially present in the metered quantity.

A further subject of the invention is a cap as defined above, inparticular for a packaging device as defined above, comprising a centralprotrusion designed to be inserted into the neck when the cap is screwedonto the latter. The protrusion can extend along the entire height ofthe neck.

Preferably, the central protrusion comes into sealing contact with theinternal surface of the neck, at the base of the latter and/or close toits upper end. The central protrusion advantageously has a face that isconcave towards the bottom of the device.

A further subject of the invention is a method for manufacturing adevice according to the invention, in which the body of the tube isproduced and then it is joined to a tube head produced by thecompression moulding technique as defined above, preferably with amultilayer complex comprising at least one support layer and a barrierlayer, for example having a structure similar to that of the multilayercomplex that is used to produce the body of the tube, possibly apartfrom the pulverulent filler.

The compression moulding technique can result in some layers beingfolded, in particular the barrier layer or layers.

The joining of the head of the tube and the body of the tube may requirethe positioning of a seal washer which is likewise produced from amultilayer complex, in particular comprising at least one barrier layerand one support layer, for example a multilayer complex having astructure similar to that of the multilayer complex that is used toproduce the body, possibly apart from the pulverulent filler.

The head, the seal washer and the body are covered during joining

The invention may be better understood from reading the followingdetailed description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof andfrom examining the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in elevation, an example of a packaging and dispensingdevice produced in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section along II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows the detail III from FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a schematic section through the sheet of multilayer complexthat is used to produce the body of the tube,

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a variant embodiment of the internal layerof the complex from FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of a variant embodiment of the capand of the neck, and

FIG. 7 illustrates the joining of the tube head and tube body.

The packaging and dispensing device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a tubecomprising a tubular body 2 of longitudinal axis X, connected to a headprovided with a neck 4, which can be seen in FIG. 3, this neck 4 beingused to fix a closure cap 5.

The body 2 is produced from a sheet 7 of a multilayer complex, anexample of the structure of which has been shown schematically in FIG.4.

The multilayer complex may comprise, as illustrated, a central barrierlayer 8 and two external support layers 9 and 10 located on either sideof the barrier layer 8 and connected thereto by intermediate adhesivelayers 11 and 12.

In accordance with the invention, at least one of the layers of thecomplex comprises a pulverulent filler.

In the example in question, it is the outermost support layer 10 withrespect to the contents of the tube which comprises this pulverulentfiller.

The central layer 8 that forms a barrier consists preferably ofaluminum, the intermediate layers 11 and 12 are preferably made of EAAcopolymer, advantageously with a mass content of AA greater than orequal to 7%, and the support layers 9 and 10 are preferably made of apolyolefin, in particular polyethylene.

The external support layer 10 comprises the pulverulent filler, forexample calcium carbonate, in a mass proportion of close to 30% forexample.

The thickness of the support layers 9 is preferably between 25 and 100μm, that of the support layer 10 between 25 and 150 μm and that of theintermediate layers 11 and 12 is from 15 to 50 μm.

The multilayer complex may comprise, as illustrated, another layer 26made of polyolefin, but not filled, between the layer 10 containing thepulverulent filler and the layer 12. The layers 26 and 10 may becoextruded. The layer 26 may, in one alternative, be of the same natureas the layer 10. As a further alternative, the layer 26 is absent.

The structure of the complex is for example as follows:

-   -   layer 9: LDPE,    -   layer 11: EAA with an AA content greater than 7% by weight,    -   layer 8: Al,    -   layer 12: EAA with an AA content greater than 7% by weight,    -   layer 26: LDPE,    -   layer 10: mixture of LDPE and HDPE with CaCO₃.

In one alternative, the layer 9 is replaced by the three-layer structurefrom FIG. 5, with an internal layer 16 made of polyolefin, preferablyPE, a non-polyolefinic barrier layer 14, preferably made of EVOH(ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer), PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride) or PA(polyamide), and a layer 17 made of polyolefin, preferably PE.

Examples of polyamides that may be cited are those mentioned in [0042]of EP 1669305 A1, examples of PVC-based plastics materials that canreplace the PVDC above are those listed in [0035] of EP 1669305A1, andexamples of polyolefins are those mentioned in [0040] of the samedocument.

The head comprises a conical portion 4 a which extends under the neckand to which the tubular body is attached, preferably with the additionof a seal washer 4 b, as illustrated in FIG. 7, which shows the head 4,4 a, the seal washer 4 b and the body 2 before they are joined togetherby welding.

The seal washer 4 b has for example a structure support material,preferably a polyolefin, in particular PE/adhesive material, preferablynon-polyolefinic/barrier material, preferably metallic/adhesivematerial, preferably non-polyolefinic/support material, preferablypolyolefinic, in particular PE, and for example: polyolefin, preferablyPE/EAA with a mass fraction of AA greater than 7%/Al/EAA with a massfraction of AA greater than 7%/polyolefin, preferably PE.

In the same way as for the example in FIG. 5, the internal layer of thecomplex that is used to produce the seal washer can be replaced by athree-layer structure comprising two layers of polyolefin, in particularPE, on either side of a non-polyolefinic barrier layer, it beingpossible for the materials to be the same as those listed with referenceto FIG. 6.

In order to produce the body of the tube, the sheet of multilayercomplex is rolled up on itself so as to superimpose its two longitudinaledges, which are joined together by welding, by virtue of the supportlayers 9 and 10.

The tubular body which is thus formed and can be seen in FIG. 7 isclosed at its lower end at 13 by welding and is joined at its upper endto the head of the tube which comprises the neck 4.

The head 4, 4 a of the tube is advantageously produced by a compressionmoulding technique as disclosed in the International Application WO2008/096290 A2, as described above, which makes it possible to obtain ahigher number of layers than in the extruded metered quantity placed inthe mould, by virtue of some of the layers being folded over themselves.

The compression moulding technique makes it possible to produce the headof the tube with the shape desired.

The neck 4 is preferably produced with a cone on its inner surface 18,said cone converging towards the bottom of the device 1, as illustrated.The cap 5 is preferably produced with a protrusion 20 which is insertedinto the neck 4 and which presses in a sealed manner against theinternal surface 18 of the neck 4, preferably at the base of the neck,as illustrated in FIG. 3, and preferably likewise at the top of the neckon the internal surface 18 of the neck 4.

The presence of the protrusion 20 makes it possible to eliminate or tosignificantly reduce the dead volume inside the neck when the device iscapped. The cap 5 is produced for example from PP (polypropylene).

The cap 5 and the protrusion 20 preferably consist of a single piece,composed of a polymer selected from COC (cycloolefin copolymer), EVOH(ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer), PA (polyamide), in particular PAG,PAN (polyacrylonitrile), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PC(polycarbonate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PET (thermoplasticpolyester), in particular PETP (polyethylene terephthalate) orcopolyesters, PMP (poly(4-methyl-1-pentene)), POM (polyoxymethylene), PP(polypropylene) or PVAL (polyvinyl alcohol), mixed with a barriermaterial, preferably EVOH, or composed of a multilayer complex, such asthe one shown in FIG. 5, comprising two support layers 16, 17 consistingof one and the same material selected from the above list, and a barrierlayer 14, in particular consisting of EVOH, between said support layers16, 17.

The presence of the barrier material makes it possible in particular toensure the airtightness of the cap.

The invention is not limited to a particular geometry of the cap or theneck, and, by way of example, FIG. 6 shows a cap 5 having a centralprotrusion having a different shape, provided at its lower end with asealing lip 23 that presses in a sealed manner against the inner surface18 of the neck.

The protrusion advantageously has an end face that is concave towardsthe inner space of the tube. This makes it easier to fill the tube withthe cap in place, before the opposite end is closed, thereby reducingturbulence.

The invention is not limited to the examples that have just beendescribed. Other materials can also be used to produce the device.

For example, the head may have the multilayer structurePE/EVOH/PE/EVOH/PE.

The cap may comprise an insert, in particular made of PBT.

The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymouswith “comprising at least one”.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for packaging and dispensing acomposition sensitive to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen, comprising: abody formed at least partially from a sheet of a multilayer complex; aneck portion extending from the body and formed from the multilayercomplex; and, a cap fitted on the neck portion of the device, the neckportion being used to secure the cap to the body of the device and thecap comprising a central protrusion which is inserted into the neck toreduce a dead volume therein when the device is closed, wherein at leastone layer of the multilayer complex of the body of the device comprisesat least one pulverulent filler in a mass proportion, the massproportion of the at least one pulverulent filler in the at least onelayer being of greater than or equal to 5% of a total mass of the atleast one layer, and wherein the neck portion of the device lacks apulverulent filler material in the multilayer complex of the neckportion.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mass proportionof the at least one pulverulent filler in the at least one layer of themultilayer complex of the body of the device is between 15% and 50% ofthe total mass of the at least one layer.
 3. The device according toclaim 2, wherein the mass proportion of the at least one pulverulentfiller is between 20% and 40% of the total mass of the at least onelayer.
 4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the mass proportionof the at least one pulverulent filler is between 25% and 35% of thetotal mass of the at least one layer.
 5. The device according to claim1, wherein the filler is a mineral filler.
 6. The device according toclaim 5, wherein the mineral filler is a calcium carbonate.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of themultilayer complex comprising the pulverulent filler is an externallayer of the multilayer complex.
 8. The device according to claim 1,wherein the multilayer complex comprises at least one support layer andat least one barrier layer.
 9. The device according to claim 8, whereinthe barrier layer is formed from metal.
 10. The device according toclaim 8, wherein the at least one support layer comprises a polyolefin.11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the polyolefin ispolyethylene.
 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein themultilayer complex comprises one or more barrier layers formed from apolymeric material chosen from polyamide (PA), polyvinylidene chloride(PVDC), and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH).
 13. The deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the multilayer complex comprises anon-metal barrier layer between two layers of polyolefin.
 14. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is configured to fit in asealed manner over an internal surface of the neck.
 15. The deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the protrusion is configured to fit in asealed manner over the internal surface of the neck portion at a basethereof.
 16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the protrusion isconfigured to fit in a sealed manner over the internal surface of theneck portion at a base and an upper part thereof.
 17. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the central protrusion of the cap isconfigured to be inserted into an interior of the neck portion of thedevice when the cap is screwed onto the neck portion of the device. 18.The device according to claim 17, wherein the central protrusion isbrought into a sealing contact with an internal surface of the neckportion of the device at a base and at an upper end of the neck portionof the device.
 19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the centralprotrusion of the cap includes an end face that is concave towards abottom portion of the device.
 20. The device according to claim 17,wherein the cap is formed from a mixture comprising a polymer materialand a barrier material.
 21. The device according to claim 20, whereinthe polymer material is selected from one or more of a cycloolefincopolymer (COC), ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), polyamide(PA), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT),polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), thermoplasticpolyester (PET), poly 4-methyl-1-pentene (PMP), polyoxymethylene (POM),polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL), and wherein thebarrier material is selected from one or more of metal andnon-polyolefinic polymers.
 22. The device according to claim 21, whereinthe polymer material is selected from one or more of glass reinforcedpolyamide (PAG), polyethylene terephthalate (PETP) and copolyesters, andethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH).
 23. The device according toclaim 17, wherein the multilayer complex comprises at least two supportlayers and at least one barrier layer positioned between the supportlayers.
 24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the two supportlayers are formed of a same polymer material.
 25. A method formanufacturing the device of claim 1, the method comprising: forming atube, in which the body is produced, then joined to a head of the tubeproduced with the multilayer complex comprising at least one supportlayer and a barrier layer by a compression moulding technique resultingin the folding of at least one of the layers onto itself with astructure similar to that of the multilayer complex used to produce thebody of the tube.
 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein foldingof at least one of the layers includes folding of the barrier layer. 27.The device according to claim 1, wherein the neck portion comprises atleast one pulverulent filler material in a mass proportion provided inat least one layer of the multilayer complex of the neck portion, themass proportion of the at least one pulverulent filler material in theone layer being of greater than or equal to 5% of a total mass of the atleast one layer of the neck portion.
 28. The device according to claim1, wherein the neck portion of the device is produced with a cone on itsinner surface, the cone converging towards a bottom of the device.
 29. Adevice for packaging and dispensing a composition sensitive to oxidationby atmospheric oxygen, comprising: a body formed at least partially froma sheet of a multilayer complex, wherein at least one layer of themultilayer complex comprises at least one pulverulent filler in a massproportion, the mass proportion being of greater than or equal to 5% ofa total mass of the at least one layer; a neck portion extending fromthe body; and a cap fitted on the neck portion, the neck portion beingused to secure the cap to the body of the device and the cap comprisinga central protrusion which is inserted into the neck portion to reduce adead volume therein when the device is closed, the central protrusionhaving an end face that is concave towards a bottom of the device andbeing provided at a lower end with a sealing lip configured to press ina sealed manner against an inner surface of the neck portion of thedevice.